Some thoughts from a Christmas message I gave...
God takes hold of us – he redeems our lives – he reveals himself to us – he moves us from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of his dear son…. He CHOOSES us to be his friends, to hear his secrets, to bear his life and produce his fruit.
We have really been robbed by this feeble phrase we keep using about our conversion - ‘I made a commitment!’ We are a chosen people, set apart for his goodness and glory. CHOSEN and cherished and appointed and set apart for his glory.
I love all the cameos of people in the Christmas story. There’s the young woman Mary and her solid reliable man Joseph. There’s the grey haired, pregnant Elizabeth and her bumbling husband Zechariah. There’s the old man Simeon, eager with hope, ‘Now I can die in peace. My eyes have seen your salvation.’
And the faithful, fasting, old Anna, dancing with joy over seeing the Messiah – unable to contain herself.
When Mary was told she was chosen to bear this most holy child, the long awaited Messiah - her only words were “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me as you have said. “ No drama, no questions…only humility, awe, a deep sense of honour.
And she hurries to see Elizabeth – and Elizabeth is given the awareness that Mary carries the Messiah - the Spirit overflows in her with a joyful cry – “You are blessed above all other women. And what an honour that you should visit me! You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Can you hear the awe and amazement in her – and see the insight she has? Insight comes as we humble ourselves toward God’s amazing choices and plans. When we place ourselves UNDER his word, we are in a position to get understanding, and see more of what it means.
And Mary has an overflow of joy and exultation:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour …” She is awed at being chosen. Astonished at what God is doing. She describes his mercy and his might, ‘He scatters the proud – he exalts the lowly – he satisfies the hungry.’ Her focus is on HIM. This is what happens when we know we are chosen.
And she bears fruit that lasts – not just the child she bore – but the words she sang. People have praised God with her words for 2,000 years and will until the end of time. The life of John the Baptist, that Elizabeth had the honour to bear, has changed lives all through the last 2 milleniums… and will keep doing it. This is what happens when we say ‘Let it be to me as you have said.’
And there’s our special word woven all through this story… ‘chosen’…chosen to bear the Messiah, chosen to carry the forerunner John – chosen to ‘pray in’ the hope of Israel – chosen to seek outJesus said: “You have not chosen me … throw that idea out - but I have chosen you…”
Does this astonish you – are you humbled and awed by this? Does your heart overflow in worship and praise and proclamation about the greatness of God as a result? I have chosen you… what for?
We are chosen to hear his voice - as a friend hears the confidences of one who trusts them. ‘You are my friends, not my servants, because I have confided in you everything the Father has told me.’
We are chosen to hear the secrets of the Father. He wants to share his heart with us – he wants to share his longings for those you love – for your neighbours and workmates – for a world that will see him one day. WHAT AN HONOUR… are we listening with an open heart?
We are chosen to reveal his goodness. “Let your light shine so that everyone will see your good works and say ‘Wow, isn’t God good!” Our lifestyle – our choices are intended to make people astonished at God. We are chosen to be his representatives through the kind of life we lead.
Do you struggle with feeling you not good enough? Every time we say “I’m not good enough’ we deny the work of the cross. It is a quite offensive to God to keep looking at our own level of righteousness. He only looks at Jesus – so should we. ‘Is he righteous enough?’ is God’s question. Yes – then so are you. God says “I’ve got it covered.” He has included us in Christ, immersed us in Christ - so there is never any question again of our righteousness.
Do you say ‘But I can’t do these things?”
Every time we say “I can’t do this…’ we deny the ability of the Spirit to work in us - and we say the promises of God are not true.
Why do we do this? Why do we evaluate our performance in an unscriptural way all the time? It is because we don’t know how gloriously, astoundingly saved we are. I heard a speaker say recently - ‘We need to know how saved we are.’ What we are saved from, and what saved for. We need eyes to see that we are chosen, and appointed, and fully provided for.
1 Peter 1:3 “I have given you everything you need for life and godliness.” He has redeemed us out of the hand of our enemy - and has chosen us for a mission – an adventure with him – and all we need to accomplish that mission has already been made available.
What did Mary say to the astounding announcement she received, ‘Let it be as you have said.’ Let what you have said come to pass. That’s faith. Do we say that? ‘ I am chosen – how amazing, what an honour!
I am appointed to bear fruit that lasts. Let it be! Let it be!’ It is the agreement of our whole being with the wonderful purposes of God. Chosen – picked out from the crowd – and appointed – given a role and an assignment – that will bear eternal fruit.
Do you know what that appointment is? What is it that God has shaped you for in this life? You have talents, skills, gifts, longings, dreams. You were crafted by him – his work of art – for good things that will reverberate into eternity – EVEN BEFORE YOU WERE BORN. (See Ephes.2:10)
This appointment/assignment from God is not determined by a role you might have – or the place you serve. It is about what you impart into this world – into others. Hope, encouragement, wisdom, resources, bringing order, bringing clarity, comforting and healing…The assignment stands – even if our roles and responsibilities and relationships all change. Find it – and you will find fulfillment wherever life takes you.
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